o the neighboring countries. We find traces
of the acceptance of their views in the distant West; and the historians
of Armenia relate that in that unhappy country they so pressed their
religion upon the people that an insurrection broke out, and Persia
was in danger of losing, by intolerance, one of her most valued
dependencies.

Vatian, the Mamigonian, who had been superseded in his office by a fresh
Marzpan, bent on forcing the Armenians to adopt the new creed, once more
put himself forward as his country's champion, took arms in defence
of the Christian faith, and endeavored to induce the Greek emperor,
Anastasius, to accept the sovereignty of Persarmenia, together with
the duty of protecting it against its late masters. Fear of the
consequences, if he provoked the hostility of Persia, caused Anastasius
to hesitate; and things might have gone hardly with the unfortunate
Armenians, had not affairs in Persia itself come about this time to a
crisis.

The Mobeds and the principal nobles had in vain protested against the
spread of the new religion and the patronage lent it by the Court.
At length appeal was made to the chief Mobed, and he was requested to
devise a remedy for the existing evils, which were generally felt to
have passed the limits of endurance. The chief Mobed decided that, under
the circumstances of the time, no remedy could be effectual but the
deposition of the head of the State, through whose culpable connivance
the disorders had attained their height. His decision was received with
general acquiescence. The Persian nobles agreed with absolute unanimity
to depose Kobad, and to place upon the throne another member of the
royal house. Their choice fell upon Zamasp, a brother of Kobad, who was
noted for his love of justice and for the mildness of his disposition.
The necessary arrangements having been made, they broke out into
universal insurrection, arrested Kobad, and committed him to safe
custody in the "Castle of Oblivion," proclaimed Zamasp, and crowned him
king with all the usual formalities. An attempt was then made to deal
the new religion a fatal blow by the seizure and execution of the
heresiarch, Mazdak. But here the counter-revolution failed. Mazdak was
seized indeed and imprisoned; but his followers rose at once, broke open
his prison doors, and set him at liberty. The government felt itself too
weak to insist on its intended policy of coercion. Mazdak was allowed
to live in retirement unmo